BlogHer 08

“You know, last year after BlogHer, I felt this way too.”

“Which way is that?”

“Tired.  Emotional.  Don’t you remember my friends were asking if I was mad at them?”

“Yeah, that’s when that whole mess sorta started, isn’t it?”

“Well, of course, last year it ended up that I was pregnant.  And I always figured that is why I felt that way.  But now I’m wondering if it wasn’t just a typical BlogHer Recovery.  Because, obviously, there’s no way I am pregnant now.”

“It could be your thyroid, too.”

“…”

“Maybe?”

“Uhm… yeah.  You know, it probably IS my thyroid.  That would make a lot of sense, actually.”

***

To make a long, embarassing story at least a short, embarassing story, I haven’t taken my thyroid meds in four months.  Not since Evie was born.  See, about a month before Evie was born, my previous prescription had run out and I knew I was going to need some extras so my obstetritian wrote me a prescription for another month or two, enough to get me through until I could go see my family practitioner.  But then I lost that prescription.  And I didn’t want to go see my family practitioner because I still have guilt. It’s stupid, I know.  But you know how it is when you’re a mom (a new mom, especially).  It’s hard to make time for yourself.

Well, then our health insurance was going to change at the beginning of July.  I figured I would go see a new family practitioner then.  But then Kile had his little incident and plans changed.  Our budget had to be adjusted, and then adjusted again to account for our trip to San Francisco for BlogHer.  So I figured I would wait some more.  I’d already waited that long, why not another month?

***

I’m feeling it now.  I’m exhausted all the time.  I start yawning, often just an hour after I’ve woken up.  I never have any energy to speak of.  I’m sore all over, from my neck to my shoulders to my back to my legs.  My fingernails, of all things, have been changing and getting (there is no better word for it) sicker.  I see myself and besides just being shocked by the sudden shorter haircut (still not used to that), I am horrified by how I look.  My shape seems hulking.  I don’t like what I see.

My smile seems harder to find.  My temper has been short.  It has been a lot easier to find woe than it has been to find a silver lining.  It’s been subtle, but then again, maybe not THAT subtle.  Even now, my stomach hurts, my patience is insanely limited as everything my children is doing is driving me RIGHT UP THE FRIGGIN’ WALL.  That seemed to happen overnight but maybe it didn’t.  Maybe this has been going on, building up, a lot longer than I thought.

My attention is diverted, my inspiration is limited.  My motivation is low.  I feel, I guess, somewhat depressed.  Which is pretty typical of hypothyroid sufferers.

***

I know you’re not supposed to go off of meds.  But I never felt like meds made me feel THAT much better so I figured being off of them wouldn’t make me feel THAT much worse.  My biggest concern was weight gain, to be honest.  But going from 200mcg of levothyroxin to NONE, I guess, is enough to make even my laid-back system sit up and take notice.

I need to make an appointment.  I know I do.  But yet…  I will always be able to find an excuse not to.  Do I really want to explain to a new doctor what the deal is?  What if they think I’m full of crap and don’t believe I have a thyroid problem?  Is there going to be a huge rigamarole to get my old files from the other family practitioner?  Is it going to require me going down there because I don’t think I can do that.  Is that another excuse?

Tune in to see if I actually a) make an appointment and b) keep it.

Wow.  Have I ever got links this week.  A great many of these links are various blogger’s BlogHer wrapup posts so if you aren’t interested in those, beware.  But some are not BlogHer themed and are just as awesome.  ANYHOW.  There are easily three times as many links this week as I might normally have.  So if you’re all caught up in your feeds and need something to do?  I’VE GOT YOU COVERED.  Seriously.

• Welcome from Slackerpapa,  As I mentioned yesterday, Kile is blogging now.  GULP.  So far, he’s really into it.  I actually think it’s pretty cool (if a little freaky) and hope he sticks with it.  Because then maybe he’ll be able to see why I love it so much.  Slackerpapa.  He’s so original.  SNORT.
• Things I Learned at BlogHer 08 (or, as I like to call it: “Facebook LIVE!”) from Greeblemonkey.  Aimee’s “twitter-style” post of short sentances that present her BlogHer experience was nothing short of brilliant.  I actually, honestly SNORTED when I was laughing, which should say something.
• Month One: Just Write, Dammit. from Blog Nosh Magazine.  Have I mentioned Blog Nosh yet?  I’m a channel editor for the family channel over there and I’m just so danged honored to be a part of it.  And this post from Megan (fearless leader!) was an awesome reminder to just drop the pretenses and get down to why (most of us at least) we started our blogs: just write!
• In which I lose my Kool from a little pregnant.  I would have lost my “kool” too.  Who the heck did this woman think she was?  I HATE this kind of attitude when it comes to childbirth.  I’m pretty sure I’ve exhibited this before many times and you all are sick of hearing about.  So you go, Julie.  Rock your repeat c-section self!
• A Single Syllable from Confessions of a Pioneer Woman.  Oh. My. Heavens.  YES.  I love P-Dub as much as the next gal and I enjoy her folksy humor and awesome photography and drool-worthy food (see below), but every now and then she puts out a post like this one that just SPEAKS.  I do know this syllable and have seen my husband do something similar and it is just heartbreaking.  I hope they find their dog too because I’ve sorta been there and it’s not happy.
• Cloth Diaper Laundry: Not so scary after all! from Baby Cheapskate.  Hey!  I wrote this!  I was so happy to participate in Baby Cheapskate’s “Cloth Diaper Week” and I hope my little post about laundry helped people realize that it’s REALLY not that difficult.  I’m hardly an “expert” but it works for me and hopefully can work for other people who are looking for information too!
• i will never learn…and i suffer from the wonk-eye from Cheaper Than Therapy.  I think I kind of love Ali.  That’s all I need to really say about that.  Other than I apparently need to learn the same lesson regarding business cards as she does.
• Sound Advice and Some Photos from Boobs, Injuries and Dr Pepper.   I loved her story about the slide (OMG, seriously?  A bar you have to slide into??) and her AMAZING list of links.  I only got to say hi to her in passing, but I kinda wish I could have hung out with her.  And now I have a hankering for Dr. Pepper.
• Egg-in-a-Hole (See Alternate Names Below) from The Pioneer Woman Cooks! She forgot “Eggs in a frame”.  That’s what we always called them.  My family used to always make this when we went camping and to this day, when I ask that Kile make them for breakfast they always taste like foggy, cool mornings and pine trees and giggling brooks to me.  I love this breakfast, you HAVE to try it.
• The One Where Some People Will Get Too Disgusted To Ever Return from misszoot.com.  She needn’t worry because I AM EXACTLY THE SAME.  I sit on the toilet seat.  SO THERE.  Anyone else feel the same?  Read this post.
• Maybe I Am Not The Joiner I Thought I Was? from Sizzle Says.  I pretty much felt exactly the same as Sizzle did about the conference (except I was lacking a PR person… must have one for the next conference).  And can I just say (again) that is freakin’ adorable?  Cuz she is.
• It might burn from PAPATV.  I met this guy at BlogHer and found him to be pretty awesome.  And his blog?  Even awesomer.  And this post (admitedly like a week old or more)?   AWESOMEST.  I laughed pretty dang hard.
• I got more and more to do and less and less to prove…. from Running Stitch.  Have I mentioned yet how much I love this woman?  Oh, just about FIVE TIMES this week so far.  What’s one more time?  I thought she not only had some awesome pictures, but some awesome words to sum up this year’s BlogHer.  I love seeing it through her eyes.  And you know?  It WAS beautiful.
• Because you were hoping for another BlogHer Update Post and I always deliver from Rhi in Pink.  I was so happy to meet Rhi at BlogHer and I loved her post-BlogHer post.  I only wish we could have found more time to hang out because I think she and I are very much on the same wavelength.
• Who do you think you are? from Rancid Raves.  I also love this woman.  And her BlogHer summation was fantastic in a way that I’ve just come to expect from her.  Plus, I totally agree with her about the bringing the baby to BlogHer part.  Mine wasn’t teething but she may as well have been.  Babies?  They crimp our style.
• The Princess & the Pantyhose (aka Blogher ‘08) from amalah . com.  Can you believe I don’t think I even SAW Amy at BlogHer this year?  For shame.  (Of course, if I had I would have been far too shy to introduce myself.)  Once again, she has charmed me with her particular brand of storytelling and while I wasn’t able to experience a lot that she did (aka The Macy’s Party), I can see it through her eyes.  Awesome.
• BlogHer ‘08 Part I: A preemptive strike from loraleeslooneytunes.com.  I don’t have to tell you all that I love Loralee because you know by now that I do.  But I haven’t told you that I love this post.  She, rather successfully I thought, shows us that we all have these awkward feelings when going to BlogHer.  We are ALL in the same boat.
• BlogHer 08: The beginning, middle, but not so much the end from Mom-101.  I loved her words about the community keynote because I felt exactly the same about it.  SO amazingly inspiring.
• CheeseburgHer 08 from Suburban Turmoil.  OMG, I can’t believe I missed the Cheeseburger Party AGAIN.  Next year, I SWEAR.  I loved the re-telling of it though and the pictures are PRICELESS.  Who knew a couple of sacks of McDonald’s Cheeseburgers would equal SO MUCH FUN?  (Watch, next year friggin’ Micky D’s themselves will be sponsoring this bad boy.)
• The Best of BlogHer 2008 Awards from Motherhood Uncensored.  I loved Kristen’s “Unofficial” awards here, particularly the award for best swag as that was a big hit around here too.  I hope to see these awards next year too (you hear that Kristen?  Now you have to do this EVERY YEAR).
• Spoiled, Not Stupid from Queen of Spain Blog.  Erin often makes me want to pump my fist.  I don’t always agree with her, but there is almost always a lovely grain of TRUTH to what she’s saying.  Maybe we should request more?  Or should I be happy with what I get?  Good questions.
• The Fool-Proof Friend-Making Strategy from Mandajuice.  Making friends while being a mom is freaking IMPOSSIBLE.  I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so.  She gives some great strategies here.
• The Heather Armstrong Experience from EmilyPie…For Realz, Yo.  Reno, represent!  Until I found Emily, I thought I was quite possibly one of the only bloggers in Reno.  At least, the only one who is found in this particular circle of female bloggers.  So reading her post about wanting to go to BlogHer and hoping to meet Dooce and then meeting her and getting a picture?  Made me all kinds of happy for her.
• jealousy, envy and bitterness. WHEE! from moosh in indy.  I gotta love the pictures of Casey busting a move on the dance floor.  And for the most part, what she says is true.  If you don’t have fun at BlogHer, it’s pretty much your own fault.  But in a nice way, of course.

I’ve heard some really nice things said about my links list and I thank each and every one of you for coming back, week after week, and checking out these awesome links that I pull together.  It means so much to me.  Anywho.  I’ve got a bunch of people who are hassling me to get out the door for a day of shopping so I guess I’d better get going.  Have FANTASTIC weekends, everyone!

This is the LAST BLOGHER POST! (everyone who was unable to attend cheers) (even those who were able to attend are cheering because DUDE, enough already) I’m just going to clear up some odds and ends.  And then we can be on our way.  (Well, this is a damn, dirty lie because my YNTR post tomorrow will heavily feature post-BlogHer posts, but at least they won’t be MY post-BlogHer posts!)

Okay, I want to talk a little about my session.  This is the first time I’ve done a panel-type session and you know what?  Kinda fun.  Seriously!  I actually kind of enjoyed being a part of it.  It didn’t feel so much like speaking as it did leading a group discussion.  I kind of got into that.  The only bad part was losing half our audience before it was all said and done.  We started out with a pretty packed room which was VERY COOL.  I was excited!  And before the time was up, we’d lost a good half of those people.  I guess we weren’t exciting after all.  Which, you know, is okay.  Elisa herself had encouraged people to not be afraid to leave and find sessions that DO speak to them.  But on the other hand, this is a session led by INTROVERTS.  And I replayed all those people standing up and walking out in my head a good 50 times that weekend.  Was it something I said?  Do I offend?

All I want to say about drama is this: You cannot go to an event like BlogHer with sky-high expectations.  If you read nothing but “a-list” bloggers and you have dreams of going there and becoming their BFFs, well, you’re probably going to walk away disappointed.  Yes, even if they have responded to your comments or whathaveyou.  Because they’re going to be busy (as we all are at BlogHer) and they’re also shy like a lot of us are and I don’t know about you, but giant free-for-alls like this wear me the heck out.  And I’m NOT under a spotlight.  Doesn’t excuse out and out rude behavior but I didn’t hear of TOO many stories like that this year, thankfully.  It’s best to go in with the expectation that you want to meet up with people who you read who also read you and connect with you and with the hopes of meeting new people.  Because BlogHer is FABULOUS for meeting new people.

Also: Some people will look for drama even where there isn’t really any.  That’s just the nature of the beast sometimes.  People like to rubber-neck.  So sometimes we are the community’s own worst enemy.  We need to knock that off, seriously.  It’s not doing anyone any favors.

All in all, I had a great time.  Next year I want to do some things different (don’t I say this every year??):

• I want to go SANS KIDS.  No children.  Nadda.  NONE.
• I want to room together with a bunch of buddies so we can stay up late braiding hair.  Or drinking at parties.  Or, heck, both.  Think of the money savings too!
• I want to stay an extra day or two (or three).  I want to be there the day before for any pre-parties and I want to be there the day AFTER, to decompress and sight-see.  I’m talking four nights in the hotel.  I don’t want to feel rushed.  I want to soak it all in, damnit.
• I want to make GINORMOUS efforts to meet people that I decide beforehand I want to meet.  Mrs. Flinger and Jennifer?  THAT MEANS YOU.  Among others.
• I want to take so many pictures that it literally makes my flickr account WEEP.
• I want to go to several parties.  I want to have alcohol at some of these parties (if not all).  I most especially want to go to a CheeseburgHer party as I have now missed it TWO YEARS IN A ROW.  And those cheeseburgers look yummy.

I think that covers it.  Now, let us never speak of it again.  Until next year, of course.

***

In other news: OMG, my husband has started a blog.  A daddy blog, of sorts.  I think.  Though he has yet to mention our actual CHILDREN, but whatever.  (Who am I to talk?  How often do I talk about the kids, really?)  Anyhow, I think he got a look at all the fun we had at BlogHer this year (and all the guys who were there getting all the attention) and decided he wanted a piece of that pie.  Whatever his reasoning, stop by and say, “Whatup, yo?”

I hope you all enjoyed the virtual landslide of photos I had from BlogHer this year (*cough*).  I’m really rather upset with myself that I didn’t take more.  But it was SO hard to do anything when I had Evie with me besides just deal with Evie.  See, looking back, it would have totally rocked to have had a personal handler with me the entire weekend.  Someone to help me deal with Evie, to bounce her when she was fussy and work their voodoo on her, make her calm down.  I could have handed Evie off to said personal handler and maybe even taken my laptop out.  Shoot, forget the laptop, I could have actually gone to sessions!  But if I had had this mythical other pair of hands, I could have also taken out my camera and taken pictures.

Oh, hindsight.  Why are you always so clear?

Anyhow, the point of this post is to highlight everyone that I got a totally awesome business card from.  I have a respectable pile (as you can see), but I wanted MORE.  Next year, I SWEAR.

• We’ve got a beautifully designed card from Christine at watchmenowatchme.com.  I didn’t know her before BlogHer, but after a lunchtime interlude where we got to watch her bitch out her bank on the phone, I feel as if we’re bonded somehow.  She truly was a cool gal and I’m totally stalking her now.
• Then there is Dawn from kaiseralex.com.  Like Christine, I didn’t know her before BlogHer but I know her now and I think she’s pretty spectacular (and not just cuz of the bewbs on her card).
• I have an adorable little card for Carly of andsosheblogs.com.  I knew her beforehand, even met her at last year’s conference but I was so glad to spend some extra time with her this year.  She is truly a wonderful, beautiful gal.
• I also got to meet Mary Ostyn from Owl Haven.  She is one of the people who says she recognizes me (or rather, my blog) and I get all bashful-like.  Shucks.
• I got to briefly meet Minnie from screamything.com and thankyoufornotbeingperky.com.  She was absolutely beautiful.  What is with all the beautiful women at BlogHer?
• I also ran into Fausta at BlogHer and got her card which went into my pocket and got totally wrinkled up but I flattened it as best I could because I like order that way.
• Who can forget the incomparable Loralee of Loralee’s Looney Tunes?  Everyone is talking about her, post-BlogHer.  I’d say she was a hit.  And you know what?  She was even MORE wonderful in person than she is online.  Which is quite a feat, mind you.  LOVE HER.
• I met Christine (aka YoungMommy) from From Dates to Diapers and almost didn’t realize it was her at first.  And she?  IS BEAUTIFUL.  Why I’m surprised at this point, I don’t know.  But also a total sweetheart.
• I have the most adorable card from Sizzle and can I just say she is STUNNING in person?  And I can tell she’s the sort of gal that everyone must love to be around.  She’s got a gorgeous smile and she seemed to be everywhere at this conference.
• Of course, I have an adorable pink card from Rhi in Pink.  She was absolutely awesome to me at the conference and even gave me a pair of pink sneakers (I wear them all the time now).  I’m proud to share Mini Owen with her.
• I even managed to score a card from Megan from Velveteen Mind (who is just such a sweet and lovely woman in person, even moreso than on her blog).  She had a lot of balls in the air this conference and she seemed to handle them with the utmost grace.  I want to be her when I grow up.
• Another absoutely gorgeous woman, Stephanie from metropolitanmama.net.  If I’m remembering correctly, she sat at my table at one point and I had to make a point not to stare because she was seriously GORGEOUS.
• I got the cutest little card from Nicole from Apron Strings Aflutter.  I didn’t know her or her blog before, but I’m definitely checking it out now.  And that is the power of a sweet woman and a cute card at BlogHer.
• I met, thanks to Carly and Rhi, Sallie Boorman of APCO Worldwide at our table (I think it was breakfast?).  She was so sweet and so pretty (are you sensing a theme here?) and so not one of the Evil PR People you always hear about.  She truly was a fabulous person.
• Speaking of PR and Sponsors, I also talked to Shannon at the Sprout booth and she was so sweet.  Sometimes these conversations can feel so manufactured, but I got the feeling this gal and her co-workers were nothing but genuine.  SO SWEET.  AND SO PRETTY.  (and I totally want Sprout now)
• On Day 1, at breakfast, I met Julia from idealist.org, where she’s a community outreach coordinator and blog manager.  She was very apologetic about her corporate card and made sure to jot down her NYC blog on there as well.  I’ll definitely be checkign her out, she was a super nice gal.
• I got an adorable bookmark from a lovely gal known as “Sugar” (how sweet is that!  pun is TOTALLY intended, btw) for her blog Living… In Theory.  She was seriously a darling gal and (do I even have to say it?) totally gorgeous.
• I scored a card from the fabulous Michelle Mitchell of Scribbit.  She is seriously stunning in person, with her blonde hair and tallness and just simply oozing grace and professionalism.  Another gal I wouldn’t mind becoming when I grow up.  I need to take notes from her, seriously.
• I briefly met Annette Tonti who works for a company called mofuse and I’m seriously going to look into it because now that I’m getting an iPhone (details to follow), I’m extra interested in having a mobile version of my blog.
• I got to meet Missy!  Seriously, I was so glad when she hopped down from her makeover chair MID-MAKEOVER to come over and say Hi to me.  That was so awesome.  And her accent?  ADORABLE.  And she?  GORGEOUS.  I think I pretty much adore her.
• Surely by now you’ve all been hearing about Brian at papatv.com.  He was pretty awesome (and hot) and his card made me laugh.  I wish I could have hung with him more like Carly and Rhi got to.  But seriously, there were a LOT of guys there this year and I thought that was awesome.
• Kelli, aka Cagey, handed out the most adorable business cards, which were actually bookmarks, styled after her blog.  This was in order to hand them out with the “Sleep is for the Weak” book in which she is featured (*coughbuyitcough*).  I love Cagey.  I love her and I love her adorable little daughter and intensely wish I lived closer to her so I could go over to her house for playdates.

And then there was my most favorite “card” of all:

This was from Brit at Running Stitch and she MADE THEM HERSELF.  Seriously, she had a whole stack to pass out.  And I thought that was the coolest thing EVER.  She even had the url to her Etsy shop on the back and I thought that was just damned genius.  She is mad talented and has made me so many wonderful things I can hardly keep track.  I love her.  She is a salve on my soul.  And she makes me laugh like no one’s business because she’s funny as hell.  It would NOT have been BlogHer if I hadn’t gotten a chance to hang with her for the short time that I was able.

Then there were all the people that I talked to that I didn’t get cards from (and, one can safely assume, I didn’t give cards to either.  Like an IDIOT.).  But I want to mention them because I did meet them and they do deserve a link.  I’ll just have to see if I can remember them all!

There was the lovely Kerry from Crunchy Carpets who I happened to see walking down the hall while Loralee and I were chatting and I hollered out to her (as if I have confidence or something!).  This was on Saturday, shortly before I had to leave so I am SO glad I got a chance to talk with her.  And her accent?  DARLING.  Scottish AND Canadian.  Too cute.

There was also the amazing Kristen from better now.  I’m sure I never would have had the guts to speak to her had I not been with Loralee at the time.  This woman is drop-dead gorgeous and so sweet and tall and lovely and smart and… well, even her beautiful blog doesn’t do her justice.  And her blog is beautiful.  So go read it.

Let’s not forget Michelle (aka sparksfley) from Sparks and Butterflies.  She watched my baby for me during my panel and didn’t even miss a STEP with it.  She also started the whole “disclaimer” thing pre-BlogHer to prepare people for the real thing and can I just say?  I think she exaggerated.  She is a lovely person, beautiful and sweet and I’m sure I didn’t get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked.

I also (almost literally) ran into Y just before we left on Saturday.  I got a chance to hug her and tell her that she made me cry during the community keynote the day before and can I just say?  Y is simply lovely in person.  I know she’s lovely on her blog (which I enjoy like no one’s business), but in person?  SO MUCH MORE.  She is a true, genuine heart.  Take it to the bank, people.  It’s true.  I adore her.

I spoke with Monty and Mamacita on Friday morning and never got their cards!  Shame on me!  Well, I’m here to tell you that besides being completely lovely women, they are funny and sweet to boot.  I am so glad I got a chance to interact with them while I was there, because now I sorta love both of them.

I also (so briefly) saw Califmom and she was awesome.  I mean, I sorta knew she’d be awesome from all her Twitters pre-conference, but in person?  Awesomer.  It’s totally a word, look it up.  I didn’t get to talk to her long, but trust me.  She was awesome.  I’m sure someone else can back me up on this.

I did meet Backpacking Dad on Friday morning.  He was talking with Loralee and I managed to get to say hi, but neglected to give him my card.  This guy was a total rockstar of the conference.  I think I can count on one finger the number of times I saw him NOT surrounded by adoring women.

I got to say hi to Redneck Mommy too!  OMG.  She’s so pretty.  And so nice too!  I was pretty much entirely intimidated because she is so… well, COOL.  But she really came off as entirely approachable and sweet.

It was very brief and totally in passing, but I also got to say hi to Crystal from Boobs, Injuries and Dr. Pepper.  Another gal who was completely beautiful and so sweet and friendly.  I wished I could have gone to her session, so I could have heard more from her.  I really admire her quite a bit.

Whew.  I think that’s it.  If I missed ANYONE, please let me know.  See, even with all these people I got to see and say “hi” to, there are so many that I didn’t and that is what haunts me.  I am starting to wonder if it is even POSSIBLE to see everyone you want to see at BlogHer.  I’m starting to have my doubts.

But at any rate, this is my list of Awesome People I Saw at BlogHer.  Now go visit their sites!  Because they are Awesome!